BNP's income, expenditure increase, with surplus of Tk 108.5m

BNP on Sunday submitted its financial report for the 2024 calendar year to the Election Commission (EC), showing a surplus ‘income’ of over Tk 108.5 million.

According to the report, the party’s total income stood at Tk 156.6 million, while its expenditure amounted to Tk 48 million, leaving a surplus of Tk 108.6 million.

A BNP delegation, led by party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, submitted the statement to EC Senior Secretary Md Akhtar Ahmed at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.

Talking to reporters after submitting the report, Rizvi said the party’s income came mainly from members’ monthly subscriptions, book sales, interest from money deposited in banks and one-time donations.

He said the expenses were made for personal assistance, disaster response, carrying out political programmes, and printing leaflets and posters.

Rizvi criticised the past role of the Election Commission, saying that previous commissions acted under the executive branch as tools of fascism. “They held voting at night before polling day and legalised rigged and looted elections,” he said.

He also alleged that the previous commissions were formed with ‘spineless, job-seeking individuals’.

Rizvi expressed the hope that the current EC would act responsibly and help create an environment for free, fair, and credible elections. “BNP wants the EC to become a trusted institution that can prevent any conspiracies regarding elections,” he added.

As per existing laws, registered political parties must submit their financial statements to the EC by 31 July every year.

Over the past few years, BNP’s financial reports have shown fluctuations in income and expenditure. In 2023, the party earned Tk 11 million and spent Tk 36.5 million, covering the deficit by using funds from previous savings.

In 2022, BNP showed an income of Tk 59.2 million against an expenditure of Tk 38.8 million, with a reserve fund of Tk 20.3 million.